30 Best Places in Santa Monica, Fun Things to Do in Santa Monica, CA

Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Santa Monica, California

Santa Monica is a coastal city west of Los Angeles. It provides visitors with the most popular tourist attractions and best places to visit in Santa Monica, CA. Santa Monica Beach is bordered by Palisades Park, which has views of the Pacific Ocean.

Santa Monica Pier is home to the Pacific Park amusement park, the historic Loof Hippodrome Carousel, and the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium. Next to the pier is Muscle Beach, an outdoor gym established in the 1930s. In the city center, Bergamot station has several art galleries. This is a great activity in Santa Monica. Staying at the hotel was a great way to see other places.

Santa Monica State Beach and the Santa Monica Pier may seem like great places to visit in Santa Monica. But there are many things in this southern California paradise. As an LA resident, I had the chance to experience its best attractions, from amusement parks to walking farmers' markets to trekking to Santa Monica mountain. We will look through my favorite items and some treasures that may be new for many people.

Santa Monica California is a famous beach location that is also a popular weekend getaway in Los Angeles. The city houses the iconic Santa Monica Pier, Flying museum, Hippodrome and other sights. Visit Third Street to browse shops; lunches or a restaurant can also be an option in this area. Stay in a luxury hotel or check out cheap hotels for your weekend holiday. Here are some of the most interesting things to do in Santa Monica, Calif.

While most visitors to LA believe in Santa Monica for its famous beaches and piers, it offers lots of interesting things to see. From shopping and nightlife to artistic appreciation, quirky museums and luxe spa facilities there's something for everyone. The area has become a preferred destination for those wanting to just relax and pamper themselves. Santa Monica is well-known for its beach, restaurants, bar, and sunny sights. However, here is a list of 30 Best Place in Santa Monica, CA.

1. Annenberg Community Beach House

The Annenberg Community Beach House was previously an elegant, private beachfront home built in the 1920's. The complex today offers locals and tourists the best beachfront recreation facilities that are accessible for all ages.

Facilities at the beach house include a gallery allowing for the display of local paintings and artwork, a swimming pool, a children's pool and playground, beach awnings, volleyball fields and field soccer. The area is available for small events. Beach Houses are an ideal place where you can have fun at the beach and are open all year round. Pool closes in October-May.

2. Rustic Canyon, Santa Monica, CA

Rustic Canyon wine bars serve upscale New American food prepared on the farm using locally-sourced sustainable products in modern surroundings. You're bound to find exquisite dishes, like sunburst salad, sausage dumpling and stuffed butterbean or olive oils-soaked Passmore tacos.

They also serve a large wine selection and hand-picked cocktails such as Maple Berry Smash. The company was operated from 2010-2011 by renowned restaurateur Josh Loeb, who operated the Milo & Olive Company, Huckleberry & Sweet Rose Creamery. Jeremy Fox serves as chef. This restaurant is located within the urban center of Santa Monica.

3. Downtown Santa Monica and Third Street Promenade

The Santa Monica main tourist district has several shopping options on the beachfront palm tree lined promenades. Close to automobiles the neighbourhood has friendly pedestrians which allow easy strolls along all sides. This city is renowned for its vibrant nightlife and a range of upscale shopping options and is a seasonal attraction.

Open-air cafés and restaurant space have been scattered across the Promenade while tablelines the street and food carts set up shops across the blocks. The bustling neighborhood carries a lively and active atmosphere and continues to attract both visitors and sellers to its streets.

4. Santa Monica neighborhoods

Some mistakenly believe that Santa Monica is a city within LA. It's most known for its pier and beach, but has eight distinct neighborhoods. Downtown Third Street Promenade features the largest Shopping Zones for Santa Monica, with large amounts of retail, restaurants and hotel rooms.

Farmers' Markets run Wednesday and Saturday. Main Street contains galleries and retail outlets, and contains the largest number of cafes in downtown. Farmers' markets also happen every Sunday. Mid-City : the nearest town in the inland is a cultural center.

5. Climb the Santa Monica Stairs

The free activities that draw fitness fans are the Santa Monica stairs climbs. This staircase spans from Adelaide Drive on the top up to Entrada Drive at the bottom. When looking up Santa Monica stairs on Google Maps the route will take you to 689 Adelaide, the address of the house on the opposite end of the staircase.

Free parking is available in the streets from top to bottom, but because many visitors are heading toward Adelaide Drive, sometimes it is easier finding spaces on Entrada Drive and going down Entrada Drive.

6. BoxUnion, Santa Monica, CA

BoxUnion is Santa Monicas premier Fitness courses which offer intense boxing workouts for individuals ranging from the youngest through the oldest to the most experienced. The studio offers 45-minute courses with high-energy music selection with minimal lighting. Strength training & muscle shaping are the focus of the classes at the studio.

This course will be taught by a professional coach who focuses on mental and physical technique and develops inner champions in all participants on their courses. Punches or other defensive movements are incorporated into all exercise sessions.

7. Palisades Park

A small, but well-known park in Santa Monica, Palisades Park is a narrow public park that runs along a bluffed slope that looks over a sea-side. Palisades Park is about 1,600 miles long, from Colorado Avenue to northern city limit.

The Palisades Park was built around 1893 and was paved with walkways, formal entrances and planted trees. The fence was also constructed of repurposed eucalyptian timber recovered during the city tree-trimmation of 1913. It is popular among walkers with beautiful views over the water and the birds of the garden.

8. Embrace Your Inner Aviation Geek at the Museum of Flying

The Museum of Flying opened at its current location on the Santa Monica Airport grounds in 2012. The museum displays several exhibits related to the Douglas aircraft company, alongside many other historical aircraft models, including the Douglas DC3 Spirit Santa Monica, which you see on the front, built by Douglas Aircraft in Santa Monica in 1942. Also worthy of attention is the FedEx airplane cockpit which allows you to get up and take pictures.

9. Museum of Flying, Santa Monica, CA

The museum is located around the corner near Santa Monica Airport. The 22,000 sq. m area houses a number of exhibits that allow guests to experience the evolution from flight to aerospace and learn about the evolution of aviation.

Two dozen Wright-designed jet-powered aircraft, including the Boeing 727 wingpiece, are on exhibit. The museum also has an extensive collection of important aviation objects, as well as several historical documents and artifacts.

10. Mercado, Santa Monica, California

Mercado Mercadono, an elegant Mexican restaurant for dinner is known for offering excellent dinner dishes and tequilas. The restaurant is located in the heart of downtown Santa Monica serving authentic food and the menu includes traditional and modern Mexican cuisine.

Mexican born chef Jose Acevoto uses his knowledge and experience to produce high end meals from fresh local ingredients. The dining room has upscale decor and a warm atmosphere. It's an interesting place to find romance date night ideas.

11. Go for a stroll along the Third Street Promenade

3rd Street Promenade

Third Street promenade is an excellent pedestrian shopping zone in LA. Street performers provide an atmosphere of festive fun nighttime, week days and in summer. Although the original shop and restaurant that had provided the Promenade its charm has gone out of favor it remains an active and vibrant area for the visitors. Located between Santa Monica Place Broadway and Wilshire Boulevard there is a pedestrian zone.

12. Go swimming at Annenberg Community Beach House

The Annenberg Community Beach House is an open swimming pool, community center and gallery located on Santa Monica Beach. Its first house was the 100-room house William Randolph Hearst built for Marion Davies back in the 1920's and was transformed into hotels and beaches clubs.

Its own villa was demolished in 1956. Nevertheless, the beach clubs operated until the 1994 Northridge Earthquake, after which the city devised new plans, but didn't have funds available for the implementation.

13. Santa Monica Pier, Pacific Park and Aquarium

An historic landmark in Santa Monica the beautiful Pier is an important landmark. The 100-year-old structures are a crucial part of historic history and provide tourists with a unique and famous beachside leisure destination.

The Pier offers an extensive array of entertainment venues from small shops or coffee houses, to large musical performances stretching on each deck. It's the perfect place to begin exploring the Santa Monica area.

14. See a Show at the Eli and Edye the Broad Stage

Arts Center

The 500 seat wide stage in the Santa Monica College Performing Arts Center is the most technologically modern performing arts space. It has 2 theaters: the main Broad Stage and The Edye Broad Stage, an intimate blackbox theatre with 200 seats and a smaller theatre.

The Performing Arts Center performances have featured legendary artists Patti LuPone, Mikhail Baryshninikov, Helen Hunt, Preservation Hall jazz bands and other.

15. Santa Monica Mountains

The Santa Monica mountain is one of California's best known tourist attractions. The Santa Monica Mountains National Wildlife Area begins at its base and provides visitors with various entrances into large urban greenspace.

Almost 20 parks in the mountains offer the visitor the most chance for discovery. There is a variety of trails and paths throughout the space providing access to people walking or mountain biking, horse riding and other sports fans.

16. Sweet Rose Creamery

Sweet Rose Creamery is a quaint Santa Monica ice cream bar serving as one of the only local ice cream shops in Los Angeles. Five neighborhood ice cream's shops offer ice cream's products today crafted from local and organic ingredients.

Each and every Ice Cream's is created by a team of experts and varies from classic mint and chocolate chips flavored to unique sweet potato swirls and Cherimoya coconut flavors.

17. Unleash Your Inner Child at Pacific Park

Pacific Park offers great attractions and activities for children and those in the mood for a nostalgic thrill. The Park is based right on the Monica Pier Santa and offers a selection of rides including the Pacific Wheel and West Coaster.

There are numerous kid's attractions as well as a variety of amusement games such as WHAC - A-MOLLE, BLOOON-BULL, mini hoops & rings-tosses.

18. Looff Hippodrome, Santa Monica, CA

The Looff Hippodrome is an ancient Greek house used for horse racing. But it was constructed in the late 20th century near the Pacific coast. The hippodrome in Santa Monica has become internationally recognized and is a popular tourist destination.

The Looff Hippodrome today is the biggest amusement park in the nation featuring an amusement park and attractions with numerous rides, stores and restaurants.

19. Santa Monica Farmers Market

The Santa Monica Farmers Market is a large city wide festival that runs throughout the week. Saturday's markets are two locations whereas Saturday's markets are two. This industry sector is widely recognized nationwide and deserved high praise for the variety of products and refined design of the facilities they offer.

The Santa Monica Farmers Market offering includes a broad variety of fresh, locally grown produce throughout the year.

20. Walk, bike or skate your way along "The Strand"

The Marvin Braude Bike Track or the "strand" is a 23 km gravel road that starts near Will Rogers state park north of Santa Monica to Torrance Beach south of. It is possible to hire bikes or skateboards for an hour or a long day on several miles of paved beaches stretching south to Redondo beaches or north to Malibu. There are minimum three bike and skate rentals available at Santa Monica Pier.

21. Santa Monica State Beach

Santa Monica Beach lies at each side of the famous Santa Monica Pier. It offers several entertainment and leisure opportunities for beach goers. Surrounding the beach are lifeguard stations manned with watersports and playground facilities.

Additionally, volleyball courts and other landmark buildings are lined around this beautiful and popular spot.

22. Del Frisco's Grille, Santa Monica, CA

Del Frisco Grill serves late afternoon and evening dinners. Del Frisco's American bar & grill is a bold American style restaurant in an excellent setting. Del Frisco has a panoramic view of Santa Monica Pier.

This unique blend of ingredients is important in creating fresh and flavored flavors that Del Frisco staff creates for its customers. This modern style dining room offers various dining options.

23. Learn about marine life at Heal the Bay Aquarium

Healing the Bay Aquarium located near the Santa Monica Pier has a wonderful location that offers visitors a great opportunity to learn more about ocean marine life.

Although this place is not nearly as large as the Long Beach Aquarium, the Bay Aquarium still features more than 100 sea animals that live in the Santa Monica Bay.

24. Chomp Eatery and Juice Station Santa Monica, California

The Chomp Eating Station is an old and modern eatery where you can get an excellent meal and enjoy it all. They also have a menu featuring a range of gluten-free, vegetarian or dairy-free options in 30 flavors.

Their tasty burgers are prepared on grass-fed beef and chicken, and are cost-free. It makes its own mayo without preservatives. They show that healthy can't be tastelessly boring.

25. Day trip to Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

About 40 minutes from Downtown Santa Monica, the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area offers more than 500 acres of breathtaking outdoor terrain. Other popular activities here include hiking, climbing mountain bikes and hiking. If the place offers great peace in a quiet corner, please see it.

26. Spend Some Time at Santa Monica Pier

There's plenty of action going on at Santa Monica Pier which houses a definite Pacific park as well as a legendary and historic carousel built in the 1920s. You can also visit the Heal the Bay Aquarium, which we can discuss more about here. The restaurant is available for a variety of budgets and tastes.

27. Relax at Santa Monica Beach

This Beach is an ideal spot to just sit back, enjoy the sun, surf and sand, alongside many other attractions. Grab a picnic rug and relax on this coastline. Stay at the sunset for the best possible experience.

28. Marvin Braude Bike Trail

The Marvin Braude Bike Trail is a 22-mile paved bicycle path that runs mostly along the shores of Los Angeles County, California. The Coastal Bike Trail is widely recognized as "the most popular bike path" in Los Angeles.

29. California Heritage Museum

California Heritage Museum is a unique collection of artifacts dedicated to state and local history in a preserved 19th-century house.

30. Santa Monica Bay

It is a bight of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, United States. Its boundaries are somewhat vague, but it is generally considered to be part of the Pacific Ocean between an imaginary line drawn between Point Doom in Malibu and the Palos Verdes Peninsula.

💥Frequently Asked Questions💥

💥What kind of neighborhood is Santa Monica, CA?

Santa Monica, CA is an elegant beaches town and a top suburb in Los Angeles. Its longtime residence is home to professionals, retired artists, and well-heeled residents who like their beautiful environment, relaxed feel, and numerous amenities.

💥Is Santa Monica, California for the rich?

In Malibu, Beverly Hills and Santa Monica you can find some very expensive neighborhoods in LA County and some of West Los Angeles'richest neighborhoods.

💥Is Santa Monica CA a good place to live?

It is located in California and is a good place to live. Residents of San Monica enjoy urban living with rented homes most often. The town of Santa Monica has numerous bars, restaurants, cafés and park areas.

While some cities along the PCH may be isolated or a bit bohemian, It's offers a perfect mix of laid-back beach cities and lively city living. Its trendy and sophisticated and the panorama isn't great either - which makes Niche one of the best suburbs in the city.

💥What is so great about Santa Monica, CA?

The crashing waves and spectacular landscapes were just the beginnings for this trip. Aside from natural and physical activities the iconic Pier features its very own theme parks with the worlds only solar-powered Ferris-wheel and rollersailing machine.

💥Is Los Angeles and Santa Monica the same thing?

Although many Angelenos consider Santa Monica part of L.A., this city is technically a separate city surrounded on the north and south sides with l.a neighborhoods: Pacific Palisade's on the north and Brentwood, West LA and Marvista to the south.

💥Is Santa Monica, CA worth visiting?

This Beach is a tourist attraction (mainly because of its pier), locals enjoy it as well as its proximity from downtown LA to many areas. There are many good restaurants and shops nearby. This area is divided into 2 parts: north and south.

💥What does Santa Monica Pier do?

Explore Pacific Parks, an amusement park featuring a variety of restaurants, bars and souvenir stores. The Solar Ferris Wheel in the park is the first of its kind in the regional park.

💥Why is Santa Monica, CA so popular?

Santa Monica Beach has the most activity because of its accessibility. Not only is the beach an attractive holiday destination because it has a good portage, but residents love it as compared to the city center.

Other's popular & fun things to do such as Torrance county beach, Discovery Hill Garden, Rogers State Beach, Original Muscle Beach, Ocean front walk, Marion Davies Guest House, Rose Garden, Gathering Hill, Observation Hill, Garden Hill and Super Awesome Kids Park, Shopping and Dining, Famous pier, Beach Volleyball, Main Street, pacific coast highway, California heritage museum and Splash Pad are provide hours of free fun things for kids.

💥What is Santa Monica, California known for?

It's the most known for beaches, restaurants, bars, and the beaches that are crowded with tourists. You will love this sun-filled small but lively city so there will be many choices to choose from.

The business name “Silicon Beach” is a leader in the creative industry and in the startup industry. Santa Monica, CA also hosts three prominent medical centers: Providence St Johns Health Center, Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center & Kaiser Permanente.

💥Is it worth visiting Santa Monica, California?

One of the best tourist destinations thanks to its beautiful beach, local tourists also like to visit because they are easily reach from Downtown Los Angeles and other cities. The hotel is easily walking distance from many restaurants and stores. There are three sections of beach: north and south.

💥Can you swim at the beach in Santa Monica, CA?

The water is cold, and you can swim in it. The water quality at the Pier is sometimes low but the beaches of SM are many miles long, so there's no need for swimming at the Pier.

💥Is Santa Monica Pier worth visiting?

It's Beach is an excellent tourist destination, thanks to the proximity to it. Not only are beaches popular tourist attractions because of its large number of piers but local residents also like them because it easily comes from downtown LA and other parts of town. A good number of restaurants and shopping centers are accessible from there.

💥Can you ride your bike on the Pacific Coast Highway?

Yes, you can bike along the Pacific Coast Highway in the United States.

💥What is so special about Pier Santa Monica?

The 1909 Santa Monica Pier is the oldest concrete pier on the West Coast. In recent years, it became known as an outstanding fishing destination for the locals. The Santa Monica's Pier fishery continues to be an important activity.

Three Streets Promenade. Santa Monica Places. Santa Monica's colleges Visit the Santa Monica's Coastal Area, Venice and Malibu Coasts. A small group of electric cycling tours start from San Marco. Shops & Cooks on Santa Monica Place. Hollywood Beach Trip to Santa Monica, CA & Venice.

💥How much does it cost to go to the Santa Monica Pier?

Access is free. The aquarium ticket costs $5 for adults and kids over 13 and is free for the younger. Rides in Pacific Park range from $5 - $10, wristband - unlimited rides will be $32.25 for those under age 8 and $17.15 for the younger age group.

💥What is Santa Monica close to?

Located on Santa Monica Bay, it consists of five sides and borders various neighborhoods in Los Angeles: Pacific Palisades north-east Brentwood north-east West Los Angeles south-east Mar Vista north-east and Venice south.

💥Why should you visit Santa Monica, California?

The crashing waves and spectacular views are just the start. In addition, there is the iconic Santa Monica Pier with a separate theme park that features the only solar-powered ferris wheel's and roller coaster.

💥Is Santa Monica, California beach free?

You can also walk to the dock without paying and the beaches are also free!